Improvement in hoop and train skirts



L. GUELLEf Hoop and Train Skirts. No. 136,434, 7 PtentedMarch4,1873.

UNITE STATES Pn'rnlvr QFFIGE.

LOUIS GUELLE, or HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOP AND TRAIN SKIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,434, dated March 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lonrs GUELLE, of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanyin g drawinig formingapart of this specification, in which drawing- {Figure 1 represents a side view of a skirt constructed according to my invention. Fig. 1*; is a detached perspective view of the front part of my skirt. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of my main skirt detached. Fig. 3 is a similar section of my supplemental or train skirt. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of my skirt taken in the line m at of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

- This invention relates to a skirt having an open front, and which is to be worn on the rear part of the person in such a manner as not to come in contact with the limbs of the wearer in walking, and to better support the rear or train of a dress or robe.

The first part of my invention consists in the arrangement upon the vertical edges of an open-front skirt, and upon opposite sides thereof, of rigid whalebone or metallic ribs or branches, for the purpose of increasing its strength. These" vertical ribs are connected with each other by an elastic band, which is placed transversely, and in such a position upon the skirt that it rests upon the seat or that portion of the lower limbs of the wearer that do not partake of their motion in walking, and in such a manner that the whole weight of the skirt is brought to bear upon that portion of the body. My invention consists further in placing the horizontal hoops of my skirt only upon the top and bottom part of the same, being connected with each other, and being supported by a suitable textile covering that forms the basis of my skirt, and which extends from the waistband downward in such amanner that, when seated, no ribs or hoops will come in contact with the body of the wearer. Tran sversely upon one of the lower hoops is placed a rigid whalebone or wire rib, which serves toconnect the hoops horizontally and to preserve the necessary circular or segmental form of the skirt; and it also tends to increase its strength. The second part of my invention consists in the combination with a skirt, as above described, of an adjustable supplemental or train skirt, which is attached upon the skirt proper at the pleasure or convenience of the wearer, for the purpose of enlarging the skirt and for supporting or holding up the rear or train of a dress or robe. This supplemental skirt is provided with hoops on its lower part only, so as to allow the wearer to be seated without inconvenience; and the said skirt is also composed of atextile or woven fabric to cor- I respond to that of the main skirt. The supplemental skirt is supported on the waistband of the main skirt and on its lower part by rigid rectiliueal wires or whalebones projecting horizontally and at right angles from the low-v er transverse rib of the main skirt, and extending into the rear of said supplemental skirt, the said skirt being adjusted on the outside cover of the main skirt by means of buckles or buttons, or by any other desirable means. All the whalebone and wire ribs are enveloped or covered with a suitable woven or other fabric, and they are capable of being taken out and replaced in their covers when for any purpose it is desired so to do, and especially for the purpose of washing the skirt and bringing the same within a portable compass.

In the drawing, the letter A designates, and Fig. 2 represents, a sectional view of the first or main part of my skirt, upon whose vertical edges are placed rigid whalebone or metallic ribs or branchesB B. These vertical ribs may,

if desired, be provided with a joint placed in such a part that it will be in a line with the knee-joint of the wearer, so as to allow of the said ribs assuming the shape and bending with the lower limbs when seated. This j ointshould be of such a construction that it will allow of their bending inward only, and not outward. The letter O designates the waistband, by means of which the skirt A is supported on the person of the wearer, being secured around the waist in the usual manner. If desired, the waistband may be adjusted on the garment worn underneath the skirt by means of buttons or hooks placed entirely around the waist, and on which the said waistband is buttoned. My skirt is composed of a suitable textile fabric,- and in its lower and upper parts are placed the horizontal segmental hoops D E, the hoop E in the upper part being slightly prominent upon the rear of the skirt, and thereby serving the purpose of a bustle. The hoops D D of the bottom of the skirt are connected with each other vertically by an oblique wire, F, that is placed in the rear part of the skirt, and the several hoops are,

comes in contact with the ground and would have a tendency to bend upward.

The letter G designates a whalebone or steel rib that is placed transversely upon one of the lower hoops D D for preserving the circular or segmental form of the skirt, and

'i'or supporting the supplemental skirt, as hereinafter described. 7

Instead of the rib G, if desired, a piece of muslin or other woven fabric may be stretched across the lower part of the skirt A with the same eflect.

. Placed transversely in the front part of the skirt A, and connecting the ribs B B, is an elastic band, H, which is secured in such a part of the skirt that it will rest upon the seat of the wearer. This elastic band is the only part of the skirt that comes in contact with the body of the wearer, and the whole bulk of the skirt is borne by the said band.

The letter I (see Fig. 3) designates the second or the supplemental part of my skirt, which is composed of cloth or other suitable fabric to correspond to the skirt A. This supplemental skirt is adjusted on the main skirt,

as seen in Fig. 1, when for any purpose it is to be enlarged, and it may be supported on the same by rectilineal wires L L, (see Fig. 4,) extending or projecting from the transverse rib G into the rear of said supplemental skirt,

'where they are secured in any desirable manner. The skirt I is attached on the outside of the main skirt A by means of buckles or buttons, or by any other desirable means.

In this example of my invention I have employed buttons (1 d and f f, placed, respectively, upon the upper and lower ends of the same, the lowerbuttons d d being enveloped by strips 0 0 extending from the edges of said skirt I, and the upper buttons ff by holes 6 6 formed in the top part of the skirt. The

two hoops J J, which are placed in the lower part only of the supplemental skirt 1, are

connected and kept at a proper distance from each other by an oblique metallic strip, K, placed in the rear part of the same, and upon its-front by similar vertical strips arranged upon its front edges.

It will be observed that by placing the hoops of my skirt upon the top and bottom part only the weareris not exposed when seated to the liability and inconvenience of their breaking, which frequently has the effect of injuring the person.

If desired, the front of my skirt may be closed, as shown in Fig. 1, in which M designates an adjustable front, which is provided with a hoop, N, for preservingits shape. This front M is supported on the waistband G of my skirt, to which it is attached by means of buckles or buttons 1 or by any other desirable means.

By reason of the peculiar shape of the hoop N, (see Fig. 4,) the front of my skirt does not impede the proper motion of the limbs of the wearer in walking. 2

It is obvious that my skirt can be worn with or Without the supplemental train-skirt, according to the taste or convenience of the wearer. i

I do not wish to confine myself to the pre; cise form or shape of my skirt as here shown, as other forms could be substituted without altering its efl'ect. 1 1; 7 What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. The arrangement upon the vertical edges of the open-front skirt A, and upon opposlte sides thereof, of rigid whalebone or metallic ribs or branches B B, as and for the purpose described. 5

2. The transverse elastic band H, in com; bination with the vertical ribs or branches B B and with the skirt A, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The horizontal hoops D D and F, placed, respectively, upon the lower and upper part of the skirt A, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

4:. The arrangement, upon the horizontal hoop D, of the skirt A and of the transverse, rigid rib G, in combination with the supple mental skirt I, as described.

5. The combination, with the skirt A, of the adjustable supplemental or train skirt'l, substantially as described.

6. The hoops J J, placed upon the lower part only of the supplemental skirt I, as and for the purpose described. I

LOUIS GUELLE. [L. s.j

Witnesses:

L. I. Lnnsruc, Lns'rnn NEwnLL. 

